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Company Registration Checklist

Everything you need to register a business in South Africa — step by step

0 of 8 steps completed
8 Registration Steps
CIPC, SARS, VAT, UIF, SDL, PAYE, and bank account
2-4 Weeks Total
Estimated time from start to fully registered
From R225
Minimum registration fees (name + CIPC)
How to register a company in South Africa: (1) Reserve a name with CIPC (R50, 1-7 days), (2) Register the company with CIPC (R175 for Pty Ltd), (3) Register with SARS for income tax, (4) Register for VAT if turnover exceeds R2.3 million, (5) Register for UIF/SDL and PAYE if you have employees, (6) Open a business bank account, (7) Set up your accounting system. The entire process takes approximately 2-4 weeks and costs R225-R500 in registration fees.
Overall Progress0%

0 of 8 steps completed

1

Reserve Your Company Name

1-7 business daysR50

Before registering, reserve your company name with CIPC to ensure it is available and not already taken.

Requirements

  • Four unique name choices (in order of preference)
  • Name must not be similar to existing registered names
  • R50 name reservation fee

Tips

  • • Check name availability on the CIPC website before paying
  • • Avoid generic names — they are often rejected
  • • Name reservation is valid for 6 months

Register your company (Pty Ltd) or close corporation with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.

Requirements

  • Approved name reservation
  • Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI)
  • Certified copies of all directors' ID documents
  • Proof of address for registered office
  • CIPC customer code (register on eservices.cipc.co.za)
  • Registration fee: R175 (Pty Ltd)

Tips

  • • Online registration is faster than manual
  • • Keep your CIPC customer code safe — you will need it for annual returns
  • • You will receive a registration certificate with your company number

Register your new company with the South African Revenue Service for income tax purposes.

Requirements

  • CIPC registration certificate
  • Company registration number
  • Details of all directors/members
  • Proof of banking details
  • Proof of physical business address

Tips

  • • Register on SARS eFiling first — you need an eFiling profile
  • • Your company tax reference number will be issued after registration
  • • Company tax rate is 27% for financial years ending on or after 31 March 2023

If your taxable supplies exceed R2.3 million in 12 months, VAT registration is mandatory. Voluntary registration is available above R120,000.

Requirements

  • SARS income tax registration
  • Bank account in the company name
  • Proof that taxable supplies exceed R2.3 million (or R120,000 for voluntary)
  • VAT201 application form

Tips

  • • Mandatory if turnover exceeds R2.3 million in 12 months
  • • Voluntary registration available if turnover exceeds R120,000
  • • Consider if VAT registration benefits your business — you can claim input VAT
  • • You may skip this step if your turnover is below R120,000

If you have employees, register as an employer for Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Skills Development Levy (SDL).

Requirements

  • SARS tax registration
  • Employee details
  • EMP101e application form

Tips

  • • UIF: 1% from employee + 1% from employer (2% total)
  • • SDL: 1% of total payroll (exempt if annual payroll < R500,000)
  • • Register via SARS eFiling when you register for PAYE
  • • Skip this step if you have no employees

Register as an employer with SARS to deduct Pay As You Earn tax from employee salaries.

Requirements

  • SARS income tax registration
  • Details of employees
  • EMP101e form (same as UIF/SDL)

Tips

  • • PAYE, UIF, and SDL employer registration is done on one form (EMP101e)
  • • Monthly EMP201 returns due by the 7th of each month
  • • You must issue IRP5 certificates to employees annually

Open a dedicated business bank account to keep personal and business finances separate.

Requirements

  • CIPC registration certificate
  • Company resolution to open an account
  • Certified ID copies of all directors
  • Proof of business address
  • SARS tax clearance (some banks)

Tips

  • • Compare fees across banks — some offer free business accounts
  • • Keep personal and business finances completely separate
  • • Consider a bank that integrates with your accounting software
  • • You need a business account to register for VAT

Get your bookkeeping system in place from day one. Proper accounting setup prevents problems down the line.

Requirements

  • Chart of accounts tailored to your business
  • Accounting software or bookkeeper
  • Bank feed connection
  • Invoice template

Tips

  • • Start tracking expenses from day one — don't wait
  • • Connect your bank account for automatic reconciliation
  • • Set up professional invoice templates early
  • • Consider working with a registered accountant for initial setup

Your Progress

Reserve Your Company Name
Register with CIPC
Register with SARS for Income Tax
Register for VAT (if applicable)
Register for UIF and SDL
Register for PAYE (if you have employees)
Open a Business Bank Account
Set Up Your Accounting System
Completed0 / 8
Min. total costR225
Estimated time2-4 weeks

Now that you're registered, manage your books with Accounter

South African accounting software built for new businesses. Connect your bank, send invoices, and stay SARS-compliant from day one.

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Ready to manage your books?

Once you're registered, Accounter handles the accounting. Connect your bank account, send professional invoices, and file with SARS — all in one place.

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Company Registration FAQs

Common questions about registering a company in South Africa

The minimum cost is R50 for name reservation plus R175 for CIPC registration (Pty Ltd), totalling R225. Additional costs may apply if you use an accountant or attorney to assist with registration. SARS registrations (income tax, VAT, PAYE, UIF/SDL) are all free. A business bank account may have monthly fees ranging from R0 to R200+ depending on the bank.
Online CIPC registration typically takes 1-5 business days after submitting a complete application. Name reservation adds an additional 1-7 business days. In total, the CIPC process usually takes 1-2 weeks. Once you have your registration certificate, you can proceed with SARS registration (1-3 business days) and other registrations.
No — VAT registration is only mandatory once your taxable supplies exceed R2.3 million in any 12-month period. Voluntary registration is available if your taxable supplies exceed R120,000. If you are just starting out and expect turnover below R120,000, you do not need to register for VAT at all. However, voluntary VAT registration can be beneficial if you have significant VAT-inclusive expenses, as you can claim input VAT.
A Pty Ltd (private company) is governed by the Companies Act 2008 and is the most common business structure for new registrations. A CC (Close Corporation) was a simpler structure governed by the Close Corporations Act 69 of 1984. Importantly, no new CCs can be registered since 2011 — the CIPC no longer accepts new CC registrations. Existing CCs can continue to operate or convert to Pty Ltd. For new businesses, a Pty Ltd is the standard choice.
Yes, the entire CIPC registration process can be completed online through the CIPC eServices portal at eservices.cipc.co.za. You will need to create a CIPC customer account, reserve your company name, and submit your registration application online. SARS registration can also be done online via SARS eFiling at sarsefiling.co.za. Online registration is faster than manual (in-person) registration.